It's the write borough

QUEENS may be short on bookstores - but that doesn't mean the borough lacks literary interest.

The Q Note, a popular Queens arts and entertainment website, is launching a monthly literary salon for local poets and writers. Dubbed "Commas & Coffee," the salon will kick off tomorrow with its first free gathering at the Cafe Marlene in Sunnyside.

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"I wanted to tap into the numerous talented writers living in the borough and give them a platform to expose their work locally," said Q Note founder Alia Akkam, 31. "In a way, it's like I'm curating a literary series."

Akkam, also the managing editor of the trade magazine Beverage Media, said she organized the salon in response to the lack of local independent bookstores that traditionally hold such events.

"The foundation for this literary scene is already here," said Akkam, of Astoria. "What I'm trying to do is elevate that."

Akkam scouted out about 15 potential presenters through word-of-mouth, then narrowed them down to eight, including herself. After the show, listeners can ask questions and speak with performers.

"There are writing workshops going on and there are open-mic nights and that's great," she said. "But I was going for a different vibe."

Poet Karen (K.C.) Trommer, 37, of Sunnyside, said she was excited to be included in the lineup.

"There are a lot of artists and writers in Queens, but there's not a place that serves as a focal point to bring these people together," said Trommer, who teaches creative writing at the Bard High School Early College Queens in Long Island City.

The event will also be the first time that project manager Audrey Dimola, 24, of Long Island City, has done a reading since high school, she said.

Dimola looked for similar venues where she could share her poetry, but became discouraged to learn that most were in Manhattan. "It's good to see events opening up that can bring writers from Queens together," she said.

"There's been a spike in activity in terms of having writing series and literary activities," Gallagher said. "There's a very serious burgeoning arts scene in Long Island City and ... more and more artists and writers have been spreading out to Sunnyside, Jackson Heights and Woodside."

Akkam said she hopes to capitalize on that growth and tap into Queens' diverse ethnic roots for future installments of the series.

"I would like to have writings reflect multicultural experiences," Akkam said.